Rotating cylinder internal combustion engine



y 1962 s. T. DONALDSON 3,034,490

ROTATING CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 14, 1960 I III //V Vf/VTUR ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,034,490 Patented May 15, 1962 3,034,490 ROTATING CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Sabins T. Donaldson, 1246 N. Livingston Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Filed July 14, 1960, Ser. No. 42,844 Claims. (Cl. 123-43) ,stator as the rotor moves, and by the piston members being cammed by the stator to move with respect to the rotor recesses. The reaction on the rotor effected by combustion of fuel-air in the recesses imparts a driving torque to the rotor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby the combustion pressure, in a power recess or cylinder which embodies a reciprocating piston, is transformed into rotary motion and power without the useof a crankshaft or connecting rod.

Another object and feature of my invention is the provision of a novel power means which is supercharged as an economical and inherent feature of construction.

Another object and feature is the provision of a power means which is light in weight, having a low weightpower ratio, and which is economical of manufacture.

In carrying out the invention in an illustrated embodiment, there is provided a stator and an eccentricallymounted rotor. Non-radial recesses are provided in .the rotor, and a piston member is carried in each recess.

A charge of fuel-air is supplied to the chamber between the rotor and stator; and a supercharging pressure of the fuel-air is obtained as the rotor moves, the supercharging being effected by the diminishing volume of the chamber as achieved by the eccentric relationship. Passageways are provided for delivering the compressed fuel-air to the inner end of each rotor recess. Subsequent camming of the piston member causes the piston member to travel inwardly in its recess, further compressing the fuel-air charge, the camming also being achieved by the eccentric nature of the stator against which the piston member moves. Means for igniting such charge is provided, and the reaction of the combustion pressure on the rotor has a tangential component which imparts a driving torque to the rotor.

The above description is quite introductory and general; and the above and other objects, features, concepts, and advantages of the novel invention will further appear from the following detailed description of an illustrated embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying, somewhat diagrammatic drawings, in which:

' FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a power means according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view thereof, with portions ,being shown in section, as taken generally along the lines Ila and Hb of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional detail, taken generally along the line -III in FIG. 1.

As shown in the drawings, an engine or power means according to my present invention generally comprises a stator and a rotor 12, the rotor being mounted on a drive shaft 14 for revolving movement with respect to the stator.

The rotor 12 is shown as provided with three recesses .16, here identified by reference numerals 16a, 16b, and

16c; and each of the recesses 16 carries a piston member 18, the piston members respectively being identified by reference numerals 18a, 18b, and 18c, according to the rotor recess in which they are carried.

Each set of rotor recess 16 and piston member 18 provides a combustion station; and since the three combustion stations may be, and desirably are, identical, for brevity of description only a single one will be generally described.

The recess 16a, as shown, extends along an axis which extends non-radially, that is, laterally with respect to a radial line of the rotor, for reasons hereinafter apparent, and the piston member 18a is reciprocable along the recess. The outer end of the piston is shown as pivotally carrying a stator-engaging shoe 19 by a pin 20; and each piston member 18 and its shoe 19 form a piston assembly 21.

Hereinafter in the description, the parts will be de scribed and the concepts will be discussed in the sequence in which they are mentioned as relating to the operation of the rotor.

Accordingly, in FIG. 1, the rotor, which moves clockwise, is in a position in which piston assembly 21a has just passed a primary inlet port 22 of the stator; hence it will be understood that just prior to this FIG. 1 position of piston assembly 21a, a charge of fuel-air has moved through port 22 to a chamber 23 which is bounded by the outer wall of the rotor 12, the inner wall of stator 10, and the piston assemblies 21a and 21b. 1

An important concept of the present invention is the feature of the rotor 12 and its drive shaft 14 being eccentric to the statorlll; hence as the rotor continues to revolve clockwise from its FIG. 1 position, the chamber 23 just described is caused to diminish in volume, as will be apparent by comparing in FIG. 1 the size of the .chamber 23 with the chamber which lies between the a supercharging efiect.

Now, considering a charge of fuel-air in the compressed region between piston assemblies 21b and 210, the compressed charge of the fuel-air'is forced outwardly of the stator through a primary outlet port 24 (see FIG. 2) provided in the stator wall. This path is indicated by the reference arrow 25 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For channelling this charge of fuel-air which has thus passed outwardly of the stator through primary outlet port 24, the stator is shown as provided with a fuel-air delivery passage 26 which guides the fuel-air along a side face 28 of the stator 10 to a secondary inlet port 30 of the stator, the path being illustrated by the reference arrow 25. As shown, walls 32 of the delivery passage are formed integrally with the stator, and walls 33 of the passage are formed integrally with the stator side-plate 28. The passage 26 is covered by a cover plate 34 (see FIG. 2) which is mounted onto the ends of the walls 32, and secured thereon as by the screws 36.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the secondary inlet per 30 of the stator is radially inward thereof, and hence communicates the fuel-air inwardly through the stator side face '28 at a position at generally the radial position of the inner portion of the roto recess 16. Also, it is noted that the secondary inlet port 30 is at an angular position such that this port 30 communicates with the inner portion of rotor recess 16 at a stage of rotor displacement at which the piston "assembly 21 is at a first position in which it is withdrawn outwardly from the inner portion of the rotor recess 16.

Another advantage of the eccentric mounting of the rotor and stator may now be realized; for as the rotor now continues to move clockwise, the inner wall of the stator 19 cams the piston member 18b for inward movement along the rotor recess 16b, and hence, as the rotor recess 16b moves away from the secondary inlet port 30, the piston member 18b moves inwardly along the rotor recess 16b toward a second posit-ion more advanced toward the inner portion of the recess to thereby further com press the fuel-air charge in the rotor recess. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 by the combustion station formed by piston assembly 21c and rotor recess 16c, for in FIG. 1, the piston assembly 210 is shown as having been cammed by the stator to the inward position of the passage.

- For igniting the thus-compressed charge of fuel air, the stator is shown as provided with ignition means such as a spark plug 38. The spark plug 38 is shown as canried by the side-face 28 of the stator 10, and is at such a position with respect to the stator that it registers with the inner portion of the rotor recess 16 at the second stage of rotor displacement at which the charge is most fully compressed.

Accordingly, in FIG. 1, ignition will be understood as taking place in the inner portion of rotor recess 160, as that rotor recess travels past the spark plug 38. The explosion produces an action force on the rotor, and the component of this force which acts non-radially of the rotor imparts a driving torque to the rotor.

Expansion of the burnt fuel-air charge takes place as the fired combustion station moves in FIG. 1 from the firing position of piston assembly 210 clockwise toward the position of piston assembly 21b. During this travel of the rotor 12, outward movement of the piston assembly is permitted by the receding stator face effected by the eccentric rotor-stator relationship. Centrifugal force plus combustion pressure in the rotor recess urges the piston assembly outwardly.

Exhaust for my engine is provided by an exhaust port 40 in the side face 28 of the stator 10. As noted in FIG. 1, the exhaust port 40 is adjacent the secondary inlet port 30 of the stator, but is slightly rearward (counterclockwise) With respect thereto, providing that the inner portion of the rotor recess 16 is in exhausting communication with exhaust port 40 prior to registry of the inner recess portion with the inlet port 30. Some over-lapping of registration of the inner portion of the rotor recess 16,

with respect to both the inlet port 30 and exhaust port 40,

may be provided for purposes of scavenging.

A vent 42 is shown as provided in the stator wall at a position in which the chamber 23 begins to increase in volume, that is, slightly clockwise beyond the location of closest approach of the rotor to the stator. This vent 42 relieves the tendency to create a vacuum in that area of the stator.

Sealing of the piston assembly 21 and rotor recess 16 is indicated in FIG. 3. As there shown, the rotor 18 is necked peripherally, to provide a groove 50 in which is received a peripheral series of sealing strips 52, with the ends of the strips 52a and 52b which are parallel to the side plates of the stator having their ends overlapping the ends of the sealing strips 520 and 52d which are therebetween and lie along the walls of the rotor recesses 16.

Under each of the strips 52a, b, c, and d is shown a back-up spring 54 which urges the strips 52a and 5212 into sealing pressure against the stator side-plates, and which urges the strips 52c and 52d into sealing pressure against the walls of rotor recesses 16.

Further sealing is achieved by necking the walls of the rotor recesses parallel to the axis of the rotor recesses,

providing grooves 56. In each such groove, there is provided a seal strip 58 with a back-up spring 60 which urges the strip 58 into sealing pressure against the stator side-plate; and a heat-baffle strip 62 is disposed between the seal-strips 58 and the adjacent end of the seal-strip 52.

Similar sealing means, to seal the forward portion of the combustion chamber, are carried by the rotor as indicated by reference No. 64, and sealing against the side face of the stator.

As shown, the rotor recesses 16 are open to both stator side-plates 28; and both side-plates 28 are generally the same as one another, thereby providing a relatively high flow of charge. The rotor recesses 16 are shown as opening to the side of the rotor throughout their entire length; however, it may be desirable to have them thus opening at only their inner portions Where the inlet and outlet of fuel-air is effected.

t will be noted that the stator 10- is shown as being formed by a pair of side-plates 28 held to a stator body member 66 as by screws 68. Although the stator body 66 is shown as cylindrical, and having a cylindrical interior surface against which the piston assembly shoes 19 bear, and thus the body member 66 cams the piston shoes 19 to provide a two-stroke engine principle, it may be desirable to modify the interior surface of the stator body member 66 to be non-cylindrical, and thereby provide a plurality of strokes of each piston member per revolution of the rotor. In such a modification, the camming action would be effected not merely by the eccentric relationship of a cylindrical body member with respect to the rotor axis but also by the peaks and valleys of the body member surface, which would provide a cammed reciprocation of the piston assemblies as desired.

Another advantage which should be mentioned is that the piston assemblies will move outwardly due to centrifugal force during starting of engine, thereby permitting 'used singly or in multiple units and whether used with a fuel-air mixture from an associated carburetor, or in a fuel-injection manner in which fuel would be injected at a position adjacent to the ignition means 38 and with only air comprising the fuel-air charge whose movement is described above.

The concepts of my invention provide a novel power means which, although utilizing a reciprocating piston assembly, provides advantages of a rotary engine, eliminating crankshafts, connecting rod, auxiliary timing mechanisms, valves, and the like.

Accordingly, it will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the invention according to this illustrative embodiment, considered with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and useful power means, having desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention; accordingly, my invention is not limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described or shown.

Moreover, terms and expressions of the description and claims are to be broadly construed. For example, the term fuel-air is to be interpreted to refer to any component or components of the combustible charge; and while various stages and steps of the power cycle are set forth as being distinct, some over-lap may be advantageous and comes within the novelty of the concepts of the invention.

I claim:

1. An engine means, comprising: a stator; a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator but eccentric with respect thereto; the rotor provided with a recess extending along an axis extending laterally with respect to a radial line of the rotor; a piston member carried by the rotor and reciprocable along said recess; the stator provided with a primary inlet port; means for introducing a charge of fuel-air to the interior of the stator through said primary inlet port; the piston member adapted to seal against the starter to provide a chamber between the rotor and the stator; the eccentric mounting of the rotor and stator providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the said chamber will be operatively diminished in volume and hence compress the charge of fuel-air therein; the stator provided with a secondary inlet port inwardly along a side thereof and communicating with the rotor at a position at generally the radial position of the inner portion of said recess when the rotor is in a position in which the piston member is at a first position withdrawn from said inner recess portion; the stator being provided with a primary outlet port for delivering a charge of the compressed fuel-air; means communicating said primary outlet port with said secondary inlet port to deliver the fuel-air charge to the rotor recess inwardly of the piston member; the eccentricity of mounting of the rotor and stator also providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the stator will cam the piston member for movement along said recess from said first position toward a second position more advanced toward the inner recess portion and thereby compress the fuel-air charge in said rotor recess; and means igniting said compressed fuel-air charge in said inner portion of said recess.

2. An engine means, comprising: a stator; a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator but eccentric with respect thereto; the rotor provided with a recess extending along an axis extending laterally with respect to a radial line of the rotor; a piston member carried by the rotor and reciprocable along said recess; the stator provided with a primary inlet port; means for introducing a charge of fuel-air to the interior of the stator through said primary inlet port; the piston member adapted to seal against the stator to provide a chamber between the rotor and the stator; the eccentric mounting of the rotor and stator providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the said chamber will be operatively diminished in volume and hence compress the charge of fuel-air therein; means communicating the said chamber with the inner portion of said recess when the rotor is in a position in which the piston member is at a first position withdrawn from said inner recess portion; the eccentricity of mounting of the rotor and stator providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the stator will cam the piston member for movement along said recess from said first position toward a second position more advanced toward the inner recess portion and thereby compress the fuel-air charge in said rotor recess; and means igniting said compressed fuel-air charge in said inner portion of said recess.

3. An engine means, comprising: a stator; a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator but eccentric with respect thereto; the rotor provided with a recess extending along an axis extending laterally with respect to a radial line of the rotor; a piston member carried by the rotor and reciprocable along said recess; the stator provided with a primary inlet port; means for introducing a charge of fuel-air to the interior of the stator through said primary inlet port; the piston member adapted to seal against the stator to provide a chamber between the rotor and the stator; the eccentric mounting of the rotor and stator providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator thesaid chamber will be operatively diminished in volume and hence compress the charge of fuel-air therein; means communicating the said chamber with the inner portion of said recess when the rotor is in a position in which the piston member is at a first position withdrawn from said inner recess portion; means for moving said piston member along said 6 recess from said first position toward a second position more advanced toward the inner recess portion and thereby compress the fuel-air charge in said rotor recess; and means igniting said compressed fuel-air charge in said inner portion of said recess.

4. An engine means, comprising: a stator; a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator but eccentric with respect thereto; the rotor provided with a plurality of recesses spaced circumferentially around the rotor and each extending along an axis extending laterally with respect to a radial line of the rotor; piston members carried by the rotor and reciprocable along each of said recesses; the stator provided with a primary inlet port; means for introducing a charge of fuel-air to the interior of the stator through said primary inlet port; the piston members adapted to seal against the stator to provide a chamber between adjacent piston members and the rotor and the stator; the eccentric mounting of the rotor and stator providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the said chambers will be operatively diminished in volume and hence compress the charge of fuel-air therein; means communicating the said chambers with the inner portion of each of said recesses when the rotor is in a position in chich the piston member in the said recess is at a first position withdrawn from said inner recess portion; the eccentricity of mounting of the rotor and stator also providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the stator will cam the piston members for movement along said recesses from said first position toward a second position more advanced toward the inner recess portion and thereby compress the fuel-air charge in the said rotor recess to which fuelair has been supplied; and means igniting said compressed fuel-air charge in said inner portion of said recess.

5. An engine means, comprising: a stator; a rotor mounted for rotation with respect to the stator; the rotor provided with a recess extending along an axis extending laterally with respect to a radial line of the rotor; a piston member carried by the rotor and reciprocable along said recess; the stator provided with a primary inlet port; means for introducing a charge of fuel-air to the interior of the stator through said primary inlet port; the piston member adapted to seal against the stator to provide a chamber between the rotor and the stator; the interior surface of the stator, in the plane of the piston member, being non-concentric With respect to the rotor axis, providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the said chamber will be operatively diminished in volume and hence compress the charge of fuel-air therein; means communicating the said chamber with the rotor at a position at generally the radial position of the inner portion of said recess when the rotor is in a position in which the piston member is at a first position withdrawn from said inner recess portion and delivering the fuel-air charge to the rotor recess inwardly of the piston member; the non-concentric surface of the stator providing that as the rotor moves with respect to the stator the stator will cam the piston member for movement along said recess from said first position toward a second position more advanced toward the inner recess portion and thereby compress the fuelair charge in said rotor recess; and means igniting said compressed fuel-air charge in said inner portion of said recess.

Ti-berti July 8, 1919 McCann July 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0."3,034,49O May 15, 1962 Sabins T. Donaldson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 2 for "starter" read stator column 6 line 24 for 'chich" read which Signed and sealed this 4th day of September 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID ADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

